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Weekend Planner: New Year’s Eve Edition

If you’re reading this, you’ve survived the holidays! Hooray! We’ve bumped up this edition of weekend planner so you can take advantage of these wonderful “New Year’s Eve” opportunities for kids. Enjoy the last few days of the winter break!

Let the kids celebrate as the calendar changes from 2010 to 2011! Credit: cory schmitz on flickr

What: Noon Year’s Eve
Where: Urbana Free Library When: 11:30a.m. Friday How much: FreeAppropriate for: all agesWhy you should go: Afraid you won’t last till midnight to celebrate the New Year? Ring in the New Year with stories, food and fun with a noon countdown.

What: Noon Day Celebration Where: Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, Champaign When: 11a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31 How much: Regular admission fees; no additional chargeAppropriate for: all agesWhy you should go: Ring in the New Year with a big balloon drop and count down at noon! Make crazy hats, crazy noise, and bring in the New Year with a parade around the museum.

What: Home Depot Kid’s WorkshopWhere: Home Depot, Champaign When: 11a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1 How much: FreeAppropriate for: Kids 5 to 12Why you should go: Did your kids get a lot of battery-operated electronics and toys over the holidays? Then they need – and you need – a battery organizer. Kids can build a wooden battery organizer at this workshop. Call ahead to All children keep their craft and receive a free Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement.

What: Aida at the Art Theater
Where: Art Theater, downtown ChampaignWhen: noon, Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 1 and 2How much: FREE!Appropriate for:all agesWhy You Should Go: Want to expose your kids to opera at a reasonable price? We’ve got a deal for you! The Art Theater is celebrating its first year in business by offering free shows (Opera only) as it inaugurates its Opera series on January 1st and 2nd. This presentation of Aida was filmed in 2006 at the Teatro alla Scala, in Milan, Italy. Go early to get a seat; be prepared that it’s a long show.

There’s not much going on this weekend, as many venues will be closed on Jan. 1. But you can always check out our calendar for more ideas!